Educators can improve the academic and socioemotional wellbeing of their students if they are equipped with strategies and skills to support learners and families from diverse backgrounds and experiences--such as culturally and linguistically diverse students, students with differing abilities, and those who may experience trauma and/or…

In this study, we used hierarchical linear modeling to examine restricted-use 2011 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) data to explore relationships between principal-reported time spent on the different NAEP responsibilities of mathematics coaches and specialists (MCSs) and the achievement scores of approximately 37,400…

When the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted in-person education in spring 2020, learning leaders urgently needed collaborative professional learning -- to take deep breaths, reflect on how to shift their practices, and support one another emotionally and logistically to survive and eventually thrive in this unfamiliar learning environment. However, many…

Our contribution maps the journey towards setting up a transdisciplinary, interprofessional collaboration between coaching practitioners and coaching researchers from the fields of Applied Linguistics and Applied Psychology. The goal of such a project is to build a community of interest around a common cause, i.e., a practically relevant,…

Given the critical importance of discrete instructional practices in special education, teacher candidates must be prepared to implement them upon entering the classroom. In preservice teacher education programs, field placements and clinical experiences rarely provide enough opportunities for preservice teachers to gain the proficiency needed to…

When we embark on a journey, every action revolves around the destination. Of course, not all trips are smooth sailing. We inevitably hit distractions, obstacles, and detours. These challenges threaten to blow us off course, but when we stay focused on the destination rather than the barriers, we can move forward. The same is true in education.…

Empirical Education conducted rapid-cycle evaluations (RCEs) in three districts in the southcentral and southeastern United States. Each study evaluated the impact of the Dynamic Learning Project (DLP) coaching on teachers' and students' impactful use of technology and student achievement. The research questions, samples, and analytic methods…

This brief is designed for school-based and community-based organizations interested in implementing evidence-based early childhood curricula. It provides practical guidelines and tools for four stages of implementation: (1) Preparing the system; (2) Hiring and training coaches; (3) Getting teachers ready to implement the curriculum as intended;…

This book is designed to support the transformation of educators into strategic talent leaders. The author's research-based "Strategic Talent Leadership Framework" gives leaders the tools for acquiring, accelerating, advancing and assessing educator talent. Each chapter features an illustrative case, best practices, a ready-to-use tool…

This dissertation examines the structures needed to create a successful instructional coaching program to directly support teachers and students in the classroom. Districts spend billions of dollars each year developing research-based professional development opportunities for staff focused on increasing student learning (Knight, 2019; Moody,…

Children with disabilities often engage in less complex play and fewer spontaneous pretend play behaviors. Research has highlighted the value of providing caregivers with sustained support to promote their active involvement in the learning of their children with disabilities. Caregivers; however, are rarely offered opportunities to facilitate…

Instructional coaching is a model that continues to grow as a form of support for teachers. Instructional coaches provide job-embedded professional learning through one-on-one development and team building. The instructional coaches have an opportunity to influence change in the school through direct relationship building with their teachers. This…

This paper provides an overview of the research landscape for the kind of professional learning needed for project-based learning to succeed. The evidence is clear that such professional learning must ensure teachers are active, self-directed learners who receive support that is meaningful and relevant to their experiences and context. The authors…

Parent-mediated interventions complement professional services and empower parents. In music therapy, this treatment modality is emerging. A systematic review was conducted to assess the existence of parent-mediated music interventions with children with ASD, identify the characteristics of parent coaching used, and summarize results. Thirteen…

Two years after the onset of the pandemic, COVID-19 continues to take a toll on educators' morale and well-being. The need to strengthen relationships between educators and students is growing. The MyTeachingPartner-Secondary (MTP-S) program, which is a strengths-based coaching program for middle and high school teachers, helps educators respond…